Spotlight on Children’s Oral Health: 2025 Insights and Tips for Parents

If you’ve ever felt like getting your child to brush or floss is a daily battle, you’re not alone. According to Delta Dental’s 2025 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report, parents across the U.S. overwhelmingly value children’s oral health, but many still face challenges in keeping good routines at home. The report highlights both encouraging progress and a few areas where families could use extra support.

What the 2025 report reveals about kids’ oral health

• Strong preventive care: Nearly all parents (95%) took their child to the dentist in 2024, and 94% of those visits were for preventive care, not emergencies.

• Fewer urgent visits: Unexpected dental visits are down, now at about 1 in 10 children, with the most common issues being cavities, crooked teeth, or bad breath. This is a notable difference from 2023, when nearly 2 in 10 parents (17%) were taking their children to the dentist for unexpected reasons.

• Mixed results at home: Two-thirds of kids (67%) brush twice daily, but that’s a slight decline from last year. Just half floss daily, and only 46% use mouthwash, down from 54% in 2024.

• Brushing battles are common: 67% of parents admit it’s difficult to get their kids to brush. Reasons include kids thinking it’s boring, preferring other activities, disliking toothpaste flavors, or not understanding why it matters.

Top struggles for parents

Parents report the following issues to be the biggest culprits in their child's oral health. Encouraging kids to floss (51%), limiting sweets (47%), and brushing consistently (45%) remain the biggest hurdles. Parents also cited juice (21%) and soda (17%) as ongoing challenges.

51%

not flossing enough

47%

too much candy

45%

not brushing enough

21%

too much juice

17%

too much soda

Why this matters

Establishing healthy oral care routines in childhood does more than prevent cavities. It builds lifelong habits that protect against gum disease, improve confidence, and support overall health. The fact that preventive dental visits are strong is encouraging — but daily at-home care is where many families still need a boost.

Tips to strengthen kids’ oral health habits

Here are some practical, parent-tested ways to make dental care easier and more consistent at home:

1. Make brushing fun

   • Turn on a favorite two-minute song or use a visual timer to keep kids engaged.

   • Let them choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste flavor, it gives them ownership of the routine.

2. Lead by example

   • Brush and floss together to show that oral care is for everyone, not just kids.

   • Celebrate good checkups with a sticker chart or small reward.

3. Teach the “why”

   • Use kid-friendly language like “brushing keeps sugar bugs away.”

   • Share picture books or short videos about healthy smiles.

4. Limit sweets, juice, and soda

   • Offer water or milk instead of sugary drinks.

   • Keep easy, healthy snacks like cheese sticks or veggies within reach.

5. Master the floss

   • Start flossing as soon as two teeth touch (often by age two or three).

   • Use child-friendly flossers and keep it short, gentle, and consistent.

6. Don’t skip the dentist

   • Schedule preventive checkups twice a year, starting by age one or when the first tooth appears.

   • Use calm, positive language about dental visits and praise bravery to build comfort.

For more fun-filled activities for kids, head to Marshall Molar's Kid Corner.

What this means for parents

The 2025 report is clear: families are making great strides in preventive care, but daily routines can be tough to maintain. The good news is that small adjustments such as making brushing more fun, modeling habits together, and reinforcing positive experiences can go a long way.

By keeping oral care playful, limiting sugar, and making regular dentist visits part of your family routine, you can give your child the foundation for a confident, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.